Possible starting points for 3rd year research project

I think I would like to base my research project on some form of contemprary illustration, In particular illustrators whose work is heavily pattern based and encorperates the use of collarge and hand made type,as my practical work I try to encorperate these elements.However I'm quite lost for a specific focal point/direction that I would take as I'm a still a little unsure on the requiered form of this research project.Maybe what makes mixed media collarge successful,or how illusrtators create blance and composition within their work.I could take the angle on whether computer aided design work is out growning more hand crafted illustration.I think I need some sort of guidence on whether I'm along the right lines here.